Gbeorge h



G. H. POTWIN.

LOOSE LEAF DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY24, 191s.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Y a citizen of the United' States, residing enonen n. P,OTWIN, or cnIcAeo, ILIiINoIs, 'AssiemeTonocouN'rINe pnt-*Ions QOi/LrAIvY,I or` CHIQAG'O, ILLINOIS, Aconroniirloiir or ILLINOIS.'

AIfoosiii-Iiniir :DEVICE To all/whom t may concern.' v

-Ee it known that I, Gnonen H; PoTWIN,

Chicago, inv thecounty of @ook andjState of illinois, have invented a new and Y useful Y Improvement in@ Loose -lLeaf Devices, of

which the fol-lowing is a specification.

4rlhis invention relates 'particularly means for supporting-loose-leaf.books such as loose-leaf ledgers, to .facilitate `.the wor-lr of posting,` or makingentriedby means of typewriter, ora tabulati-ngimachine, or some analogous purpose. v Y The primaryob'ect is topnevideaA d'evice for supportingf a loose-leaf ledgenor the like', which will' facilitate the` work of mani-pulatinfr` the sheets in thev operation of posting Cir-'making entries, andl then re-as1 sembl-ing the leaves inthe boolt. Y' Y i Bindensupporting*A racksv of 'VV-form, are oni theV market and are being used tof'some extent. Among' other objections` they require a long/reach on the part of the oper-` atorA sitting' infront of a typewritinpj inacliine toI obtainy the sheets, and requiremovementsv in manipulation wh ich-arel aude-ward.

rllhe leadingv obje-iftv of the present invention is. to'rp-rovide a compact/'device whichY may` be placed at onev side ofthe typewritiiigl ma# chine', which` will venable the sheets. to be easily reached, which will"avoidawltward manipulations in introducing the sheets into the ltypewriter and returning them to the rack, and which will facilitate ,the` work p ol" bind' the sheetsy again inthe hinder.

LA fu. her object is to provide a-loos'eleaf dcvieiein which a 'loose-leaf binder- 'and' a supporting rack thereifoiy are so arranged andcombined as toenable the loose sheetsl comprising a ledger, or the like,to be ma-v nipulated with the utmost facility, in order that machine' entries 'or machine postingmay be effected expeditiously, and in, order that the wholel work of; taking; the sheets froml the binder, effecting the machiner entries, and reebinding thesheets may bevr performed with the utmost eiiiciency.

The invention is ilhistrated yin `its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which- A Figure 1 represen-ts a si de elevational View of` a loose-leafbeok-rack constructed accordance with the invention,y the view showing' one portion of a loose-leaf book` supported on a lower platform and anotherporsame, a, portion of .thev up'perfplatformv Vbroken ;V Fig. v3, a :broken sideY eleva#r tional view, showing a modification inv which the lower platform is;adjustable;v Fig-y, a

Specification of Letters Patent. l Patnted Augl'gl". v Appiicatinf'ie'fi nayy 24, uns:Y serial No. @sestav perspective view of the construction ,shownv in Fig. l, tliel rack being, viewed from 'a point in. front andat Von'elsidey thereof; Fig. 5,a broken "View showingla modification in which. the upper' platform, or ledge, isgad-lv instable; 6, a broken sectional view of a binder of .a form. in connection V'with which the improved'lrack is well adapted tol use; and "La Vbroken `sectional' view taken as indicated at line 'Tof Fig. 6.

V.Describing Figsfl, 2i and 4f, A represents a' frame com-prisinga base A1 andy a standard A2 rising from the rear end ofthe base; B., a lowerplatform mounted on the front portion of the base and disposedain frontof. f the lower portion .of the standard A2.; and ,Y C, ,an upper platform, shelf, or ledgey which ,1"

projects forwardly from the stand-ard, and'A Y which isdisposed above Vthe rear'portion: of

the platform-B. f Y i In the construction being described, .the lower platform. B is supported .by wedgeshaped side-members 1 mounted the base 1` in such..manner that the platform inclines rearwardly and downwardly. i. yThe standard VA2 is shown as comprising upvrights,A or side-'members 2, connected at their upper ends by a'crossfinember 2a. The members 2; have upwardly and rearwardly inclinedfront edgeesurfaces 2b' which continue downy toV the point of junction. withI the lower rear 'end' ofthe platform. r'Ehe shellf C, which may have a rearward.,eXtensio'n C1.A rmly secured between the side-- acute angle at'its upperV side with the form' Cg'to be fanned at the upperedges ,K members 2 of the standard, preferably forms p, i

to facilitateI the removal ofi the leaves, oneV f at a time, or bunches, as desi-red'. Below the base-portion of the upperplratform C isa.- rearwardly and upwardly inclined wall` ,Y f 1:05

3, which lis provided at.l anninitermediate'- point witlia rib, orguidda, `The wall 3 is recessed orl cutaway atits lower; portion to afford a recess,orxgrooveyl, at thepoint of junction with the lower platform B; and at one lateral Vedge of-the wall 3 a recess, or' groove, 3C. The recess 3b is adapted Y to receive therein one edge of a binder-sed.

tion of its length may be suficient only to accommodate theedge-portion of the coversection.

The construction described has the lower cupying a step ed relation, thus affording a lower receptac e D adapted to support a book on its side and an upper receptacle E adapted to support a book on edge.

In Figs.v 6 and 7 is illustrated a loose-leaf binder, for use in connection with which the improved rack is well adapted. The binder shown comprises an upper coversection F equipped with a pivotally-conynected clamping-member F1; a lower coversection G equipped with a pivotally-connected clamping-member G1; and bindingposts Il releasably locked to the clampingmembers. /In the illustration given, the

clamping-members are shown equipped with ball-locks 5, which are engaged by the Y forked ends of spring-held levers 6 mounted in the clamping-members. In the illustration given the levers 6 in the upper clamping-member are equipped with pushbuttons 6 by means of which the levers may be actuated to release the balls from binding engagementV with the posts; and the levers 6 in the lower clampingmember are adapted to be actuated by sliding-cams'b, whereby the levers may be actuated to release the'balls from binding engagement with the lower ends of the posts. Either construction provides releasable locking connection between the binding-members and the posts, so that the posts are removable fromv the binder. In Figs. l and 2, the leaves of the book are designated I; and one part of the book is shown supported on edge on the upper platform C, while the other part of the vbook rests flatwiseon the lower platform B. The leaves are shown provided at their ends with round perforations 7, and

at their bottom edge with grooves or U- shape openings 8. In Fig. 2, a method of offsetting some of the leaves is illustrated in the right-hand portion of the figure.

The manner of using `the improved device may be described briefly. Assuming the use of a binder of the character illustrated, the book may be stood'on edge upon the upper member F1' of thebinder.

the groove 4. By manipulating the pushbotton 6a, the upper cover-section is thenV removed and laid upon the platform B, with the clamping-member F1 thereof projecting into the lower` portion ofthe lateral recess 3e of the rearwardly-inclined wall 3. Assuming theA binder to occupy a position at the right of a typewriter, A(for instance, the

voperator'is able toview the name appearing at the upperedge of the sheet; and the op? Y erator-may, with facility, lreach over the platforms B and YC and'remove the sheets, as desired, from the receptacle E. Such 1 sheets as requirev no entries are immediately platformB and the upper platform C oc- Y tabulator, as the case may be, and the proper entries are made, after which the sheets are placed, in proper order, upon the stack of sheets accumulating in the receptacle D. The sheets when thrown into the receptacle D' gravitate readily tol the desired position, the groove 8 of the sheet engaging the rib 3a of the rack. The rib 3a of the rack is so spaced with relation to the shoulder afforded by the lateral groove 3v as to bring the perforations 7 of the sheets in alinementwith the post-receiving sockets of the clamping- In case it is Vdesiredto offset any of the sheets. this may be accomplished in the Vmanner illustrated in 2; and after the proper tahulating has l through the sheets, and will be automaticallyv lockedto the clamping-member 'F1, after which the cover-section Cr may be applied, and the `clampin i-meinber G1 will be antomatically locked to the binder-posts.

It is desirable, ordinarily., to 'have the platforms B and C incline rearwardly and downwardly; and ordinarily it is desirable to provide rearwardly and upwardly-inclined walls Aas backing-portions for the receptacles D'and Fi; However. the arrangement may be varied. In Fi g. 3 is illustrated a construction in Ywhich the lower platform B1 is adjustable., and may occupy a horizontal position. In this case, the platform/is shown connected to the frame by pivotQ and equipped with pivotally-conn ected arms,V yor pawls, l0, adapted to engage lateral hori- `zontal racks l1 with which the base is shown fixed. ln Fig. 5,V however, the platform C' is replaced by anv adjustable'platform C1 working in grooves li?, provided' inY the standards A2. The platform @1' mayV bel of such dimensions as toy project asl far from Y the standards as maybe desired, depending upon the size of. the book. The platform C1 Y isshown adjusted so as toproj'ect in front of thef'standard a sufficient distance to receive a thicker book than is provided for in Fig. l'. kIn this position, the inner edge of the platformengages 'a shoulder l2a` withL which 'thex groove 12 is provided. lf desired, however, the platform may be tilted upwardly so that its inner edge will*y be free from en` gagement with `the shoulder 12a', and the platformmay be'thenshoved inwardly until its inner edgeengages'the rear end' 12b of the groove. Forcertain purposes, it is de-V sirable to have the upper platform adjustable.' This is particularly trueJ where the improved rack is to be used inV connection with a binderV of another type, such as a Vbinder having chain-post connections, -or

other flexible connections, between its clamping-members. lVhe're the improved rackis usedy in connection with such a binder, it is desirable'to provide appropriate means (not shown) for holding the clamping-member of the upper binderLsection, while the lower binder-sectionis lowered and; allowed to rest upon the platform B1. Vhere ya binderof the chain-post type is employed,- itis u nnecessary to employ the centralrib 3', as the chain-posts will themselvesserve as,` guides for the sheets, or leaves, ofthe book.V In this case, it'may be desirable to have the book, in the firstinstance, supported onthe platform B, and to rest the upper coversection upon the upper platform C and stack Vthe leaves, after the entrieshavebeen ymade, upon the' upper platform against they reclin ing upper cover-section.

The construction described is `simple,and

may be cheaply manufactured; and on ac-r countof the compactness of the device and the provision for manipulating the leaves in a natural manner', the device is exceptionally well adapted to its purpose. The doubles deck, or stepped arrangement-of the plat- Y in any desired manner.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should n recess for accommodating a cover-section.

be understood? thercifrein,y but the appended claims" should beV construed as-'broadlygas s permissible,1in-view of theprior art.

What li regard asnew and desireto4 se#A cure by' LettersiPa-tent is: c l. A;lbose-leaf'boolrfsupportingrackcome prising' a lower; platform, a back equipped with a guide-rib for' slotted leaves and with a recess at the junction; of said platform and.

back for" accommodating a cover-section,` and an upper platformlha-vingmeans;associatedV Y' Y therewith forsupp-fortingfa"v bookfin.. rea-r# wardly inclined position-y Ajloose-leaf booklsupporting rack: com! prising a lower "platform, a back-*equipped withV a guide-rib for' slotted leaves and with back for accommodating a cover-section,l an upper inclined platform, and 'means -in the rear of said'upperplatform for'supporting abook' inl rearwardly inclined position.

- a recess at thejunction?y of said platform and A loose-leaf book-supporting rackcoi'n A prisingalo'wer receptacle andr anupper'ref lceptacle arranged in stepped relationthereto, the lower receptaclecomprising a" platform, an inclined back associated.,therewith j and provided at an intermediate point with aguide-rib` and provided at one side' ofthe back with-a lateralrecess adapted to accom-v modate the clamping-member of a 'binden section, said back beingqprovifded at itsline of junction with.saidjplatform with a re cess adapted to accommodate 'the cover-section, andj said upper receptacle comprising an inclined platform andifanincl'inedl back, 'said lastnamedI platformbeing-provided at its line of junction-with 'its back 'with a re#` Y cess adaptedto accommodate' a binder-section..Y 'i 'vf-H .i0 2j 1 V4:. A loose-leaf book supporting-rack comprising 'a'v lower; receptacle provided with meansl for accommodating abindjerlsection and with guide-'means forfacilitatingv the arrangement of leaves in position for bind# ing, and an Aupper receptacle 'substantially lation to the lowerv receptacle andi comprising a relativelyshort,platform adapted to su'pc port the edge of an inclined -standingbook and a back associated therewith and adapted,v

to support the vside ofthe standing Vbook, .l

the upper receptacle being -provided at the junction-of the platform and back with va 5. A loose-leaf book-supporting rack comprising a lower platform adapted lto sup.-

`port a book on its side, and an inclined back, Y,

with a recess at the lower portion of said 'Y back for accommodating av cover-section,A

Vand an upperreceptacle adapted to .support a' book in inclined standing position and` located substantially vabove the plane o-f the book space of the lower receptacle andcomprising va rearwardly and downwardlydn-v l clined relatively short platform and a rear- 110', abovefthe book-space of andin stepped rel wardly and upwardly-inclined back, said upperplatform being provided at its base portion with a recess for accommodating a cover section. e e

6. A loose -leaf book supporting device comprising a standard provided with an ,upwardly and rearwardly-inclined front surface, a lower platform extending in front of said inclinedsurface and adapted to support a book on its side, the inclined `surface of said standard being'adapted to support the edge ofthe book, and an upper platform eX- tending in front ofsaid inclined surface, the upper platform Ybeing relatively' short and adapted to support a book on edge, the upper portion of the inclined surface of said standard being adapted to support the side of the book. Y

7. A loose-leaf book supporting rack having upper and lower receptacles and comprising a standard having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined front wall and a forwardly and upwardly inclined platform projecting in front of said inclined walland adapted to support a book on edge, and a larger forwardly and upwardly inclined lower platform projecting in front of said inclined wall adapted to support a book on its side, said inclined wall serving to support the edge of a` book in the lower receptacle and serving to'support the side of a book in said upper receptacle. n

i, 8. A book-supporting rack forv the purpose set forth, comprising a lower receptacle adapted to support a book on its side and an upper receptacle superposed over the lower receptacle, the lower receptacle .having a relatively short backwall and a relatively long bottom. wall so disposed that the edge of the book will bear normally against vthe back wall, andthe upper receptacle having a relatively short forwardly and upwardly inclined bottom wall which projects over the book-space of the lower receptacle and V having arearwardly and upwardly inclined back wall adapted to support the side of a bookV in inclined standing position with its edge resting on the bottom wall.

its side and having a relatively short up-j Vwardly and rearwardly inclined back wall substantially at right-angles to thebottomV wall', against which the edge of the book may rest, andthe upper receptacle having a forwardly 'and upwardly inclined relatively short bottom wall projecting over the booki spaceof the lower receptacle and'having a relatively long upwardly and rearwardly inclined back wall against which the side of the book in inclined standing position may rest, the back wall of the upper receptacle being substantially a prolongation ofthe back wall of the lower receptacle.

10. A rack for the purpose set forth, comprising a Vlower vfront receptacle having a bottom wall upon which a book may lie {iatwise and a back-wall for the edge ,of the book, said walls being so disposed that a book will lie normally with itsvedge against said back-wall, and an upper rear receptacle comprising a .relatively short bottom wall which projects over the book-spacefof the lower receptaclea'nd a back-wall which inclines rearwardly and upwardly, whereby said upper rear receptacle is adaptedftosup- Y and a lower receptacle, comprising .an inclined backa lower platform extending in` front of said back and adapted to support a book on itsside, and a relatively short upper eXtensible inclined platform extending in front of lsaid back and projecting over` the book-space of the lower receptacle.V

. GEORGE H'PorwiNv. l 

